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Monday, April 28, 2008

Amour !

If you wander around in Paris and see the word Amour painted on the pavement or on some shop window, it's very likely that this man - Jean-Luc Duez - did it! Jean-Luc started doing this after a love story that did not end too well... But he claims it's not the only reason. To him, writing Amour everywhere is also his own way of acting for peace in the world (he actually started doing this after 9/11). And it works! He told me that he met 3 people that wanted to commit suicide and did not because they saw one of his signs. Amazing! Check here to see more Amour!About 20 people will attend this year's PDP Picnic on May 7, why don't you join? Please check this topic in the PDP Forum.

Eric, That video is so hot. Did you take all those photos? Did you spend time following him around one day? And the artist, Duez, I think is very handsome in a 60's inspired sort of style. I just love it.

Eric, In my walks around Paris I've never come across Amour but the other examples of street art in Paris never fails to amaze me. I have a small portfolio of photos of the street art I've encountered and I'm always looking for more examples. Some are small and some fill the entire side of a building. In Chicago our mayor does not suffer street artists, their work is removed by crews roaming the city looking for violations of the anti-graffiti laws. What a shame - not all art hangs in a gallery.

Love is a many splendored thing. It arrives in all colors, fades to black. It makes the world go around, and stops it dead stop. It feeds the heart, and stops it. Love warms the heart, and chills it. We love many things, and even love to hate other things. Paris j'taime. Great photo.

Eric, layers and layers of reflection in this photo. A PERFECT shot! I love everything about it. Please share with us the story of how you came to be next to Jean Luc and his "Amour" on glass to take the photo. Did you interview him for a story? -KimSeattle Daily Photo

This seems like a good time to introduce you all to an eccentric and dogged individual called Arthur Stace (1884-1967); who, after a life lived "on the wrong side of the tracks", converted to Christianity and thereafter began a project that remains both deeply mysterious and utterly marvellous. Fifty times a day, for no less than thirty years, Stace wrote the word "Eternity" on the sidewalks of Sydney: not with a spray can, but in plain white chalk - and not cryptically, but in an elegant copperplate script. How's that for keeping your eye on the "big picture"!

Fabulous photo, and a great story about Jean-Luc! Loved your little movie too. I will definitely keep an eye out for Amour when I'm in Paris this fall. Once again Eric you're giving us tools to see Paris in a whole new way (both on this site, and when visiting in person). And Eric you really must see Lynn's latest post; it ties in very well with all this!

Lucio thanks for the Mr. Eternity info. What a story; and what persistence!

I'm certain Stace is a familiar figure to at least some of PDP's readers and contributors, but there will always be those to whom he is not. As for his persistence, I accidentally underrated it. His project ran for a total of thirty-seven years!

Eric the video link is great. It's nice that you were able to "catch him in action" around Paris so that we could visualise the way he makes his art. I also like Jeff's tribute to love...watch out folks!

The Paris Picnic, I cannot make it this year. Next year I think so. We could have a picnic here in SF at Union Square, same time -- then it would be virtual. Let me know if any of you SF people are into this. bisou bisou

My mom found your site and forwarded it to me and I am so glad she did. I am about to return to the US after my second stint of living in Paris (in the 9th as well) so I am glad to have found a site that will give me a little taste of the city that has been my home once I am back in America. And as a hobby photographer and occassional blogger about life in Paris I really enjoy your stuff. Merci bien!

he he Katie, Christie, Marie and Michael, well done, you got Eric over to me in style. Anyone else wanting to see what Eric did over at my place in Cheltenham, click Michael's link above! All welcome....oh it's worth it .. lol!

Great joke Lynn and thank you for giving me the space over at CheltenhamDailyPhoto to get Eric back for his post on the 25th! Now the next time Eric says, "I'm going to bed early because I've had a busy day", I want each of you to remind him of his "busy days"!

Eric - adore the photo - adore the video. How I envy you being able to meander through the streets of Paris, observing and sharing such perfect slices of daily life. Yes, how did you meet him? I always love the backstories behind the featured moment. Thank you, again for sharing such beauty on a dreary New Hampshire morning!

I have taken a photo of "Amour" a couple of times. I just looked through my photos, and yes, it is the same handwriting. It is so good to connect the face to the word. I photographed it on the sidewalk in the 7e Arrt while walking to the park. Another time, I photographed it on a wall on Île de la Cité.

Hi Lynn, I visited your site thanks to Michael's link. Very nice photo of Eric.

I remember I was in Paris when people were first noticing the work of Jean-Luc Duez and his "Amour" markings around the city. I really thought they were great and they are definitely noticed. Merci, Eric!

michael and lynn...Ooooohhh...how naughty of you two!! A conspiracy..I knew it! LOL!!

he he Tonton and Lois. It's Michael's photo i merely posted it as he doesn't blog at the moment. Not so many comments as i expected but of course anybody looking at the portal simply sees a man - they don't know it's ERic until they get there LOL i should have photoshopped his name onto it.

Tonton_flaneur: I got the tip from somebody here on PDP. It's "Call In Europe", at www.callineurope.com. It's a pretty good deal. Friends in Paris won't need to pay to call me. (Of course, this assumes I have any friends in Paris who will call me!!!)